Oxfordshire came a creditable second in the inaugural NatWest Four CountiesTwenty20 comp- etition for minor counties at Burnham, Bucks, yesterday.

Skippered by Ian Hawtin, Oxon won two of their three matches in the competition. Their only defeat was by the eventual winners Hertford- shire.

In their opening match, Oxon restricted Bedfordshire to 104-8, with Banbury's Ollie Murrey returning a remark- able spell of 4-8 in his four overs.

Thanks to Keith Mustow's 25, Oxon won by six wickets with a ball to spare.

Hertfordshire then rattled up 204-9 against Oxon, with former Surrey player David Ward smashing 54 off just 23 balls.

Oxon replied with 105 all out, No 9 Philip Evans hitting two sixes in his 42.

In their last match, Oxon made 152 all out, led by Richard Kaufman's 44.

Herts, with Ward to the fore, won all three of their matches, while Bucks came bottom.

OXFORDSHIRE SCORES

Beds 104-8 (M Patterson 31no, A Roberts 25no, O Murrey 4-8), Oxon 105-4 (19.5 ovs, K Mustow 25),

Herts 204-9 (D Ward 54, M Shoveller 28, L Ryan 3-27), Oxon 105 (13.3ovs, P Evans 42, N Lamb 3-14).

Oxon 152 (19.3 ovs, R Kaufman 44, K Mustow 28, B Sher 4-15), Bucks 125-8 (L Shepherd 26, L Ryan 3-23).